LANDHOLDERS in the Murraylands and Riverland region are encouraged to manage khaki weed in its early stages before it dramatically impacts the area.
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Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board district officer Brenten Miller warned landholders to be wary of the summer weed.
"We are fortunate as khaki weed is not yet wide spread in the Riverland. This is our opportunity to prevent another weed becoming established in our region.
"The majority of known sites are located in the Renmark and Renmark West area. These are monitored by the district team who follow up with landholders to ensure early weed control.
Left unchecked and with the ideal weather conditions, this nasty weed may be starting to rear its prickly head and can cause significant damage.
Mr Miller said the best way to beat the weed is to commence control now, while it is actively growing before it flowers and before the pickles appear.
The small prickle burrs turn golden coloured as the plant matures, and cover the weed, easily injuring people or animals.
It can contaminate crops and degrade wool, getting stuck and transported on shoes, clothes, animal fur, machinery and vehicle tyres.
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Khaki weed is a small thick ground cover that can spread into a dense mat. It has reddish stems and green, oval-shaped leaves.
The straw-coloured burrs are about 1 cm long and can remain viable in the ground for many years. Plants have a thick deep tap root that helps them survive for long periods and can make control difficult.
Mainly impacted by the prickly weed are high traffic disturbed areas such as the headlands between irrigated blocks and roadsides, grasslands, pastures, lawns, grassed areas and nature strips.
The district team are here to assist landholders with identification and developing a control plan.
Mr Miller said the burr makes it easy for the weed to spread, so early detection and action is vital to ensure we keep our region and state khaki weed-free.
For advice on identification and assistance with control options, landholders and community are encouraged to contact their local Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board office at Berri on 8580 1800.
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